Sheet-metal-rolling machine for fenders and the like.



R. w. CARTER. SHEET METALROLLIN G MACHINE FOR FENDERS AND THE LIKE, I 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 19!]. 1,244,422, Patented Oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

IN YEN TOR ROBERT Ml- C/FFFTER R. W; CARTER;

SHEEI METAL ROLLING MACHINE FOR FENDERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1917.

a Patented Oct 23, 191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG. 3.

)4 YEN TOR ROBERT W. CARTER, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SEEET-METAL-ROLLING MACHINE FOR FENDERS AND THE LIKE.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 191 '7.

Application filed May 23, 1917. Seriai No. 170,424.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing atv Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal- Rolling Machines for Fenders and the like,

\ of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a metal working machine and particularly pertains to a machine for forming automobile fenders and other sheet metal objects.

It has been common practice in the automobile industry to form the fenders and other sheet metal parts of the body by theuse of forming dies which act under pressure to press the parts into the shape desired. This method of operation has proven very expensive, due to the'fact that the dies are intricate and also for the reasonthat considerable time is consumed in pressing them. It is the principal object of this invention to provide a machine for forming sheet metal parts which does not require large and cumbersome forming dies, but which permits the parts to be rolled into shape in a rapid and simple manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus by which duplicate parts may be readily formed when the originals have been produced by dies which are not accessible. In the present method of duplieating parts, such as fenders, the sheet metal is formed by peening, .which process is long and tiresome. In the use of the present machine the same parts may be accurately formed and turned out in a workmanlike manner with great rapidity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the above class which is comparatively simple in its construction and very ine ensive'in its initial cost, in comparison with other machines used for a similar purpose.

Another object -of this invention is to provide a metal working machine which may be easily adjusted and fitted for producing a wide range of objects.

It is a further object'of this invention to provide a machine which is not subjected to violent strains, possesses few parts, all of which are strong and durable. I Other objectswill appear hereinafter. The invention is illustrated, by way of exin the direction of the arrow a-.

ample, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the complete metal working machine as equipped to form an automobile fender.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section and elevation as seen on the line 22 of Fig. 1 particularly disclosing the formation of the movable forming member and the templet over which it is adapted to be moved.

Fig. 3 is a view in plan illustrating the templet. p h

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section as seen on the line of Fig. 2 illustrating the manner in which the roller weights are positioned upon. their hangers.

Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, 10 indicates a frame composed .of vertically extending posts 11 and 12 and connecting timbers 13 and 14. The timber 14 is adapted to rest upon the ground. Secured to this timber and extending upwardly therefrom is a templet base 15. In the present instance this base is shown as having a semi-circular seat 16 formed across its upper face. This semi-circular portion is covered with a sheet of metal 17 upon which the mold, or templet 18 is adapted to rest. The templet has an arcuate outer face which is described by the same circle as that of the arcuate face 16 of the base. In this manner the templet may be slid back and f( I1 lt1h e upper face of the templet 18 is here shown as arcuate in its longitudinal contour. It will beunderstood that this face corresponds with the outer surface of the article to be formed. In the present instance the article is a fender, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Pivotally secured to the upper cross-beam 13 by means of a pivot bolt 20 are shackle links 21. are fitted with a lever pivot pin 22 by which a vertically swinging lever arm 23 is pivotally supported. The outer end of this arm is adjustably supported by a chain 24 which The lower ends of these links is wrapped around a tackle block 25. This ing chain 24 and thereby vertically adjusting the lever 23. The radius arm 27 is pivradius arm otally secured to the lever arm 23 near its center by a pin 28 which permits it to hang vertically. The pin 28 supports the radius arm in substantially vertical alinement with the center of the base 15.

The radius arm is provided as a swinging support for a forming member 29." This member is here shown as a roller, circular in transverse section and oval in longitudinal section. It will be understood, however, that a fixed member having a face of the same contour as the roller might be used, if desired. The arcuate ing the concave face of the work to be formed, as particularly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this manner the roller may be swung'transversely of the templet upon a hinge bolt 30, or may be rolled longitudinally of the templet as the radius arm 27 swings from its pivot pin 28. The hinge bolt 30 extends through a roller shank 31 and is fitted with brackets 32 and 33 at the ends of which the roller is mounted upon an axle 34. The upper end of the shank 31 is extended and is provided with a lock pin opening 35 adapted to be swung in register with any one of a series of holes 36 formed through When the slot and one of the holes 36 is in register, a lock pin 38 may be positioned therethrough to hold the shank 31 at a given angle. This quadrant is fastened upon the 27 and is described by an arc, the center of which is the center of the hinge bolt 30. A handle 39 is secured through the lower end of the radius. arm 27 and permits the entire device to be manipulated in the usual manner.

In order that the forming member 29 will hear at all times against the metal sheet 40 with the desired pressure, brackets 41 are secured upon the opposite arm 27 and are adapted sides of the radius to receive a desired number of weights 42. These weights are formed with radial slots 43 which permit them to be easily mounted or removed from the shanks 44 of the brackets 41. In this manner variable pressure may be constantly exerted upon the forming member 29 as determined by the contour of the ob ect formed and the gage of the metal being worked.

The blank 40, from which the object is formed, isheld in position upon the face of the templet by means of adjustable clamps 45 which occur at intervals along the sides of the templet and over-hang the upper face of the templet to secure the blank against metal strips 46 fastened along the marginal edges of the t'emplet,'as particularly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

' In operation, the metal sheet 40 is forced to pass through a set of, forming rollers which give it the arcuate longitudinal shape face of the roller is described by a smaller arc than the arc forma locking quadrant 37.

' 45 and raising the naageaa shown in Fig. 1. These rollers also turn the flange 40' along the sides of the sheet. When this initial operation has been completed, the blank is positioned upon the templet 1 8 and there secured7by the clamps 45. The pulley block 25 is then actuated by the chain 26 to lower the forming roller 29 so that it will be held upon the fender blank by the weights 42. The handle 39 may then be grasped and the roller moved back and forth over the surface of the metal, causing it to become stretched between the side edges and to assume the desired contour in cross-section. After the roller has passed along the central portion of the fender, the lock pin 38 may be removed from the shank 31 to permit it to be set at an angle to the radius arm 27, thus insuring that the blank will be uniformly stretched. It is also evident that the pin may be entirely removed and the roller moved across the blank and back and forth at random. Attention is directed' to the fact that the arc of travel of the roller, as described from the pivot pin 28, is greater than the are describing the longitudinal contour of the fender. This insures that the roller will bear down .upon theffender blank. After an'area of the fender has been stretched, the templet 18 may be slid back and forth upon the base block 15 in the direction indicated by the arrow -a. This will permit the entire fender to be formed and caused topermanently as sume the desired contour. When the blank has been sufliciently stretched it may be removed by loosening the clamping members lever arm 23 to relieve the roller 29 from the W0 k. It will be understood that the templet is preferably formed of wood and'may be made of two adjustable parts 47 and 48, as shown in Fig. 2, or of one piece 49, as shown in Fig. 3. The

parts 47 and 48 are clamped together by clamping bolts 50 which engage clamping arms 51 and 52 fastened at the opposite ends of the templet.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the secondary side bar 46 is inserted inside of one of the side strips 46. when it is desired to form a narrow portion of the mud-guard, tge bar serving to fit a longitudinally curved e ge.

It will thus be seen that the metal workng apparatus here disclosed is inexpensive in its construction, decidedly simple in operation. and will readily produce the results desired.

While I have shown the preferred construction of my rolling machine for fenders as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes in the combination,

construction and arrangement of parts may said base, a templet adapted to rest within said seat and formed with an arcuate face whereby it may slide along said seat, a superstructure built over said base, a lever arm secured to said super-structure and adapted i to be vertically moved, a forming member pivotally supported from said lever arm and adapted to move .over the upper surface of the templet, and means whereby pressure may be constantly applied to said forming member. I

3. A sheet metal working machine, comprising a base, an arcuate seat formed upon said base, a templet adapted to rest within said seat and formed with an arcuate face whereby it may slide along said seat,' a superstructure built .over said base, alever arm secured to said super-structure'and adapted to be vertically moved, a forming member pivotally supported from said lever arm and adapted to move over the uppersurface of the templet, means whereby pressure may be constantly applied to said forming member, and means whereby the roller pressure may be varied.

4. A sheet metal working machine, comprising a base, an arcuate seat formed upon said base, a templet adapted to rest within said seat and formed with an arcuate face whereby it may slide along saidseat, a superstructure built over said base, a lever arm secured to said super-structure and adapted to be vertically moved, a forming-member pivotally supported from said lever arm and adapted to move over the upper surface of the templet, means whereby pressure maybe constantly applied to said forming member, means whereby the roller pressure may be varied, and means for raising and lowering tlie forming member in relation to the temp et.

5. A sheet metal working machine, comprising a base, an arcuate seat formed upon said base, a templet adapted to rest within said seat and formed with an arcuate face whereby it may slide along said seat, a superstructure built over said base, a lever arm secured to said super-structure and adapted to be vertically moved, a forming member pivotally supported from said lever arm and adapted to move over the upper surface of the templet, means whereby pressure may be constantl applied to said forming member, means w ereby the roller pressure may be varied, means for raising and lowering the forming member in relation to the templet, and means for detachably securing a sheet metal blank upon thetemplet in a position to be acted upon by the roller.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT W. CARTER. 

